DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 568, 24 July 1909, Page 14

DR. FINDLAY INTERVIEWED

UND SETTLEMENT AND PRISON . REFORM. .. (By Telegraph—Prcsß Association.) , „ Dunodln, July 22. tr r? 00 S^ #0 , an interview to-day the* J lon, Dr. Findlay made some interesting statements regarding land settlement ana prison Tcform. He said the Government is at present offering 400 sections of, say, 200 auree, which are to be opened under the land ; for settlomcnla improved regulations. Under those, n. settler will be paid tno standard rate of wages for bringing the first'so acres of •m ,:i\ ng ' nt « profitable occupation. Ho will further have an advance from; the'.Stato of-a sum of money to assist him.to build a home.. . JTicse sections) will be opened for public selection only. The conditions will bo that sections must bo occupied or they will be forfeited. No rent will be paid for tho. first fifteen months, so that tho State is pny4'iC3lly offering to a man who ha 6 nothing but his labour immediate opportunity o[ becoming a : small farmer.'; This system should bo extended and every reasonable encouragement given to induce a proper class of srjall settler, to, enter; lipon tbeee farms. A total area, of Crown land under, all tenure# of 1,630,129 acres has boon settled since 1006. The area at prcsent'advortisod for settlement is 103,000 acres, whilo 08,000 acres will bo advertised before the end of August. - Speaking on tbc subject of prison reform, the. Minister said the work of prison reform * is being pushed on steadily. Steps are bemg taken to find a really a suitable'superintendent for the reformatory farm at Takanui: 'Tho classification at which we aim (said Dr. I'indlay) is: (1) Professional criminals and incorrigible vagrants, (2) habitual drunkards, (3) insane apd epileptic Criminals, (4) corrigible criminals, and (S) presumptive criminals. Corrigible criminals (men chiefly from 16 to 30 years of age, who while not first offenders and consequently releasablc on probation, have still not yet become confirmed, criminals) must be treated in reformatories. These reformatories should have both an agricultural and an industrial character. Tney will combine tree-planting stations, where I propose to introduce a number of important improvements, and reformatory farms, where not only all kinds of farming will be taoght but least elementary knowledge of such trades as blacksmithing, carpentering, and similar useful industrial information will be imparted. The: agricultural reformatory will probably be graded into thre« classes. Those committed will enter in the second clzss, and may for bad conduct be reduced to tho first, or for good conduct promoted to the third. There will be differenttreatment and different privileges, according to class. The proper carrying out of this improved prison system will involve some changes in the law to permit indeterminate sentence either absolute or qualified to be employed in-cases of what we now call minor offences. It will also be necessary that bur warders shonH understand the true spirit and purposes of reformative treatment. In my opinion the appointment of Mr. Knit 11 to onr gaols department will be of great benefit to tha whole system." •

, REFORMATORY PRISONS. (Br Telesraph.—Prat AuoclitlonJ Hastings, July 23. , Ho Rer'.\ J. L. A. Kayll, recently ap» pointed adviser to the Prisons Department, gams an illustrated lecture on. orimwology ana modern reformatory prisons., He said tie idea of pnnißhing criminala wss_ gradually dying out,' and people were realising. and endeavouring to lift, the men to a higher sphere of life. This.was far better for tic country , generally. Mr. Kayll, Miters upon his new duties early in August. ' .